Nail Pin Assemblies In Light Gauge Steel

ABSTRACT

A lightweight structural steel frame assembly uses nail pins as structural fasteners between structural frame members, such as studs, joists, channels and tracks. The structural frame assembly may be substantially free of screws, rivets or other prior art fasteners known for making structural connections between light gauge steel structural members. Structural steel in the range of about 10 to 30 gauge is used for the light gauge structural steel members, or more preferably, in the range of about 14 to 25 gauge. The nails pins are made of a high-strength, ductile steel formed with a ballistic tip for piercing the steel and may include a knurled shank. The nail pins are arranged in a defined pattern.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S.provisional application Ser. No. 60/792,493, filed Apr. 17, 2006, whichapplication is specifically incorporated herein, in its entirety, byreference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to structural light gauge steel assembliessuch as used in building construction.

2. Description of Related Art

Structural steel shapes formed from light gauge (e.g., approximately10-30 gauge) sheet steel are known in the art of building construction.For example, interior non-structural walls are commonly constructedusing light gauge structural shapes to which gypsum wall board or othercovering materials are fastened using nail pins or screws. Lesscommonly, buildings incorporate load-bearing structural wallsconstructed primarily of light gauge structural steel shapes asstructural members. Such assemblies provide superior strength,durability, and value for selected installations. In load-bearingassemblies of this type, wall elements are generally fastened to eachother using threaded screws or rivets.

Notwithstanding their advantages, structural wall assemblies using lightgauge structural steel shapes are subject to certain disadvantages. Insome assemblies, reliance on threaded fasteners or rivets leads tolonger assembly times. It is desirable to provide a structural steelassembly that maintains the advantages of prior-art assemblies, but thatcan be assembled more quickly.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides a method for constructing load-bearingstructures constructed primarily of light gauge structural steel shapesas structural members. Certain structural steel shapes are joined usingby driving specially adapted nail pins through abutting webs of adjacentshapes. The pins essentially replace prior-art threaded or rivetedfasteners in the assembly, and can be installed much more quickly thanthese traditional fasteners. Hence, the entire assembly may beconstructed more quickly, without sacrificing its strength or structuralintegrity.

A more complete understanding of the structural steel assembly, andmethod of making it, will be afforded to those skilled in the art, aswell as a realization of additional advantages and objects thereof, by aconsideration of the following detailed description of the preferredembodiment. Reference will be made to the appended sheets of drawingswhich will first be described briefly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1-45 are scaled side, front and plan views of exemplary nail pinand light structural steel assemblies.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A lightweight structural steel frame assembly uses special nail pins asstructural fasteners between structural frame members, such as studs,joists, channels and tracks. The structural frame assembly may besubstantially free of screws, rivets or other prior art fasteners knownfor making structural connections between light gauge steel structuralmembers. Structural steel in the range of about 10 to 30 gauge is usedfor the light gauge structural steel members, or more preferably, in therange of about 14 to 25 gauge. The nails pins are made of ahigh-strength, ductile steel formed with a ballistic tip for piercingthe steel and may include a knurled shank.

A 0.100 inch diameter gripshank Versapin™ nail pin manufactured byAerosmith Fastening Systems of Indianapolis, Ind. may be used to fastenlight-gauge structural steel members. The nails may be loaded into asuitable nail gun and nailed into opposing parallel sheets of structuralmembers. The nail should have a ballistic tip, so that when the nail isshot out of the gun, the tip uniformly pierces the adjacent parallelsheets. Nail patterns should be arranged so that the primary load oneach nail pin is a shear load.

Exemplary configurations of nails and lightweight gauge steel structuralmembers are shown in FIGS. 1-45. FIG. 1 shows an exemplary stud-to-studor joist-to-joist connection using nail pins. Table 1 below showsdetails of different structural members fastened according to FIGS.2-43. A safe working load, maximum applied load, assumptions, and otherdetails are shown or described for each configuration depicted in thefigures. TABLE 1 Reference Detail Smith-Emery Number Number Test NumberAttachment Description 1 14A 49-53 20g RC -to- 14g Stud 2 14B 94-98 16gFS -to- 14g Stud 3 14C 64-68 14g Track -to- 14g Stud 4 14D 64-68 14g RimTrack -to- 14g Stud 5 14E 94-98 16g Rim Track -to- 14g Stud 6 14F 94-9814g Rim Track -to- lOg FS & 14g Stud 7 14G 94-98 16g Rim Track -to- 16FS & 14g Stud 8 14H.1 64-88 14g Stud -to- 14q Stud At Shearwall Joint 914H.2 64-88 14g Stud -to- 14g Stud T ical 10 14H.3 64-68 14g Joist -to-14 Joist 11 141 29-33 25g RC -to- 14g Stud 12 16A 89-93 20g RC -to- 16gStud 13 168 84-88 lOg FS -to- 169 Stud 14 ISC 84-88 16 Track -to- lOgStud 15 16D 94-98 14g Rim Track -to- lOg Stud 16 16E 84-88 lOg Rim Track-to- lOg Stud 17 IGF 84-88 14g Rim Track -to- lOg FS & lOg Stud 18 16G84-88 lOg Rim Track -to- lOg FS & lOg Stud 19 16H.1 84-88 16g Stud -to-lOg Stud At Shearwall Joint 20 1OH.2 84-88 16g Stud -to- 16 Stud I pical21 16H.3 84-88 16g Joist -to- lOg Joist 22 161 34-38 25g RC -to- 16gStud 23 18A 1-5 20g RC -to- 18g Stud 24 188 11-15 16gFS -to- 18gStud 2518C 21-23 18g Track -to- 18g Stud 26 18D 24-28 14g Rim. Track -to- 1 BgStud 27 18E 11-15 lOg Rim Track -to- 18g Stud 28 1SF 11-15 14g Rim Track-to- lOg FS & 18g Stud 29 18G 11-15 lOg Rim Track -to- lOg FS & 18g Stud30 18H.1 21-23 18g Stud -to- 18 Stud At Shearwall Joint 31 18H.2 21-2318g Joist -to- 18 Joist T ical 32 18H.2 21-23 18g Stud -to- 18g Stud 33181 16-20 25g RC -to- 18g Stud 34 20A 69-73 20g RC -to- 20g Stud 35 20889-93 16 FS -to- 20g Stud 36 2CC 69-73 20g Track -to- 20g Stud 37 20049-53 14g Rim Track -to- 20g Stud 38 20E 89-93 lOg Rim Track -to- 20gStud 39 20F 89-93 14g Rim Track -to- lOg FS & 20g Stud 40 20G 89-93 16gRim Track -to- lOg FS & 20g Stud 41 20N.1 69-73 20g Stud -to- 20g StudAt Shearwafl Joint 42 20H.2 69-73 20g Joist -to- 20g Joist 43 20H.269-73 20g Stud -to- 20g Stud Typical 44 201  6-10 25g RC -to- 20g Stud

FIG. 2 shows a means for fastening a 20 gauge resilient channel to a 14gauge stud using a 0.100 inch diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nailpositioned at 20 inches on-center spacing. The fastening means is freeof threaded fasteners, rivets, adhesive, or welds, as is true for allfastening assemblies shown in FIGS. 1-43.

FIG. 3 shows a means for fastening a 16 gauge flat strap to a 14 gaugestud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.

FIG. 4 shows a means for fastening a 14 gauge track to a 14 gauge studusing a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.

FIG. 5 shows a means for fastening a 14 gauge rim track to a 14 gaugestud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail spaced at24 inches on center.

FIG. 6 shows a means for fastening a 14 gauge rim track to a 14 gaugestud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail spaced at24 inches on center.

FIG. 7 shows a means for fastening a 14 gauge rim track and a 16 gaugeflat stock to a 14 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointedgripshank nail.

FIG. 8 shows a means for fastening a 16 gauge rim track and 16 gaugeflat stock to a 14 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointedgripshank nail.

FIG. 9 shows a means for fastening a 14 gauge stud to a 14 gauge stud ata shearwall joint using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshanknail.

FIG. 10 shows a means for fastening a 14 gauge stud to a 14 gauge studusing a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.

FIG. 11 shows a means for fastening a 14 gauge joist to a 14 gauge joistusing a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail spaced at 6inches on center.

FIG. 12 shows a means for fastening a 25 gauge resilient channel to a 14gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nailspaced at 24 inches on center.

FIG. 13 shows a means for fastening a 20 gauge resilient channel to a 16gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nailspaced at 24 inches on center.

FIG. 14 shows a means for fastening a 16 gauge flat strap to a 16 gaugestud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.

FIG. 15 shows a means for fastening a 16 gauge track to a 16 gauge studusing a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.

FIG. 16 shows a means for fastening a 14 gauge rim track to a 16 gaugestud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.

FIG. 17 shows a means for fastening a 16 gauge rim track to a 16 gaugestud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.

FIG. 18 shows a means for fastening a 16 gauge rim track and 16 gaugeflat stock to a 16 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointedgripshank nail.

FIG. 19 shows a means for fastening a 16 gauge rim track and 16 gaugeflat stock to a 16 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointedgripshank nail.

FIG. 20 shows a means for fastening a 16 gauge stud to a 16 gauge studusing a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail at a shearwalljoint.

FIG. 21 shows a means for fastening a 16 gauge track to a 16 gauge studusing a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail spaced at 24inches on center.

FIG. 22 shows a means for fastening a 16 gauge joist to a 16 gauge joistusing a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.

FIG. 23 shows a means for fastening a 25 gauge resilient channel to a 16gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nailspaced at 24 inches on center.

FIG. 24 shows a means for fastening a 20 gauge resilient channel to an18 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.

FIG. 25 shows a means for fastening a 16 gauge flat strap to an 18 gaugestud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.

FIG. 26 shows a means for fastening a 18 gauge track to a 18 gauge studusing a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.

FIG. 27 shows a means for fastening a 14 gauge rim track to an 18 gaugestud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.

FIG. 28 shows a means for fastening a 16 gauge rim track to an 18 gaugestud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.

FIG. 29 shows a means for fastening a 14 gauge rim track and 16 gaugeflat stock to an 18 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointedgripshank nail.

FIG. 30 shows a means for fastening a 16 gauge rim track and a 16 gaugeflat stock to an 18 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointedgripshank nail.

FIG. 31 shows a means for fastening an 18 gauge stud to an 18 gauge studat a shearwall joint using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshanknail.

FIG. 32 shows a means for fastening an 18 gauge joist to an 18 gaugejoist using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.

FIG. 33 shows a means for fastening a 25 gauge resilient channel to an18 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.

FIG. 34 shows a means for fastening a 20 gauge resilient channel to a 20gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.

FIG. 35 shows a means for fastening a 16 gauge flat strap to a 20 gaugestud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.

FIG. 36 shows a means for fastening a 20 gauge track to a 20 gauge studusing a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.

FIG. 37 shows a means for fastening a 14 gauge rim track to a 20 gaugestud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.

FIG. 38 shows a means for fastening a 16 gauge rim track to a 20 gaugestud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.

FIG. 39 shows a means for fastening a 14 gauge rim track and 16 gaugeflat stock to a 20 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointedgripshank nail.

FIG. 40 shows a means for fastening a 16 gauge rim track and 16 gaugeflat stock to a 20 gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointedgripshank nail.

FIG. 41 shows a means for fastening a 20 gauge stud to a 20 gauge studusing a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail at a shearwalljoint.

FIG. 42 shows a means for fastening a 20 gauge joist/stud to a 20 gaugejoist/stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nails inpairs spaced at 24 inches on center.

FIG. 43 shows a means for fastening a 25 gauge resilient channel to a 20gauge stud using a 0.100 diameter ballistic pointed gripshank nail.

In a building frame, primary load on the nail pins should be in shear.To measure shear capacities of various configurations, light gauge steelcoupons were fastened by a single 0.100 nail pin and tested in shearloading in conformance with AISI Standard CF-92-1, Test Methods ForMechanically Fastened Cold-Formed Steel Connections. Each sample wasuniformly loaded to failure, defined as the peak load just beforefastener fracture, fastener pull out, or fastener tear our from the basecoupon material. Various combinations of 14, 16, 18, 20 and 25 gaugesteel coupons were tested. Results are reported in the tables providedbelow. TABLE 1 Shear Capacities of a Single Nail Pin Fastener InstalledInto Light Gage Steel Quantity & Configuration of Steel Base MaterialAverage Sample/ Coupons Connected by A Single Nail Pin² Max. Load, Load,Failure Mode Test No.¹ 14-GA 16-GA 18-GA 20-GA 25-GA Lbs. Lbs. Type³ 1 11 637 668 A 2 1 1 672 A 3 1 1 677 A 4 1 1 644 A 5 1 1 709 A 6 1 1 353356 A, C(25-GA) 7 1 1 377 A, C(25-GA) 8 1 1 294 A, C(25-GA) 9 1 1 380 A,C(25-GA) 10 1 1 378 A C(25-GA) 11 1 1 884 890 B 12 1 1 878 B 13 1 1 861B 14 1 1 936 B 15 1 1 889 B 16 1 1 293 338 A, C(25-GA) 17 1 1 349 A,C(25-GA) 18 1 1 398 A, C(25-GA) 19 1 1 301 A, C(25-GA) 20 1 1 351 A,C(25-GA) 21 2 690 704 A 22 2 748 A 23 2 675 A 24 1 1 941 1026 B,C(18-GA) 25 1 1 934 B, C(18-GA) 26 1 1 1100 B, C(18-GA) 27 1 1 1125 B,C(18-GA) 28 1 1 1032 B, C(18-GA) 29 1 1 286 301 C(25-GA) 30 1 1 291C(25-GA) 31 1 1 312 C(25-GA) 32 1 1 305 C(25-GA) 33 1 1 309 C(25-GA) 341 1 270 294 C(25-GA) 35 1 1 320 C(25-GA) 36 1 1 284 C(25-GA) 37 1 1 305C(25-GA) 38 1 1 293 C(25-GA) 39 1 1 1 1265 1144 B 40 1 1 1 1234 B 41 1 11 920 B 42 1 1 1 1016 A 43 1 1 1 1283 B 44 2 1 974 903 A 45 2 1 878 A 462 1 967 A 47 2 1 884 A 48 2 1 811 A 49 1 1 892 907 B 50 1 1 984 A 51 1 1877 B 52 1 1 955 B 53 1 1 829 B 54 2 1 991 1020 B 55 2 1 1162 B 56 2 11000 A 57 2 1 980 A 58 2 1 966 A 59 1 1 1 958 949 B 60 1 1 1 1060 B 61 11 1 971 B 62 1 1 1 813 B 63 1 1 1 945 B 64 2 1217 1218 B 65 2 1233 B 662 1129 B 67 2 1313 B 68 2 1199 B 69 2 514 518 A 70 2 520 A 71 2 530 A 722 533 A 73 2 491 A 74 1 2 902 1088 A 75 1 2 1335 B 76 1 2 1015 A 77 1 2982 A 78 1 2 1208 A 79 2 1 1054 989 A 80 2 1 989 A 81 2 1 978 A 82 2 1947 A 83 2 1 976 A 84 2 540 827 A 85 2 889 A 86 2 951 B 87 2 840 B 88 2914 A 89 1 1 490 736 A, C(20-GA) 90 1 1 748 B 91 1 1 795 A 92 1 1 860 B,C(20-GA) 93 1 1 789 A, C(20-GA) 94 1 1 1171 1111 A 95 1 1 987 B 96 1 11147 B 97 1 1 1104 B 98 1 1 1144 B 99 3 961 1026 A 100 3 994 B 101 31049 B 102 3 1067 A 103 3 1058 B 104 3 1 868 868 A 105 1 3 148 148 A 1061 1 2 675 675 A¹Notes: 1. Unless otherwise noted in the following, the majority of thenail pin fasteners were threaded. The fasteners in Test Nos 104 through105 had smooth shanks. 2. The 25-GA base material coupons in Sample/TestNos. 29 through 38 contained corrugations at mid-length. 3. Sample/TestNos. 74 through 83 were all marked “HELI” when received. 4. All 16-GAcoupons contained in Sample/Test Nos. 84 through 103 were stainlesssteel²For examples containing a total of three or more base material coupons,the ends of the smallest and largest gage coupons were gripped nto thecrosshead of the testing machine while the middle gage coupon(s) servedas a ‘filler’ between the two gripped coupons. For similar samplespreviously described except with two or more of the same gage material,the others served as the ‘filler’.³Typical Failure More Types: A = Pin fastener pull-out B = Pin fastenersheared C = Base material tear or fastener hole elongated

FIGS. 1-43 describe connections such as may readily be used to constructa building frame from lightweight gauge steel structural members usingpiercing nail pins and a minimal amount of threaded fasteners or rivets.Nearly all fastening to be completed in a building frame may beaccomplished using the depicted means for fastening. Where safe workingloads would be exceeded, other fastening methods or structuralassemblies may be adapted as known in the art. Care should be taken toconform to the proscribed assemblies depicted in FIGS. 1-43 inconstructing the structural frame.

Having thus described a preferred embodiment of nail pin assemblies inlight gauge steel and a method for fastening lightweight gauge steelstructural members together to construct a building frame. it should beapparent to those skilled in the art that certain advantages of thewithin system have been achieved. It should also be appreciated thatvarious modifications, adaptations, and alternative embodiments thereofmay be made within the scope and spirit of the present invention. Theinvention is defined by the following claims.

1. A structural lightweight gauge steel frame assembly, comprising: afirst lightweight gauge steel frame member; a second lightweight gaugesteel frame member fastened to the first member; and means for fasteningthe first and second members together, said means including at least oneballistic-pointed nail pin piercing both the first and second membersand being free of any riveted fastener and of any threaded fastener.